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OUR PROJECTS

Data Exchange Tools and Conversion Utilities

dext.data-archive.ac.uk

This project developed, refined and tested models for data exchange for both survey data and qualitative research data. Research was also conducted into the viability of developing the automated conversion procedures for legacy formats.

This project explored the feasibility of developing data exchange models and data conversion tools for primary research data collected in the course of empirical research. It developed, refined and tested models for data exchange for both survey data and qualitative research data based on eXtensible Mark-up Language (XML)/Resource Description Framework (RDF) schema and developed tools for data import and export. The work also researched the feasibility of developing automated conversion procedures for legacy formats.

The data formats included are those that are commonly used in research such as SPSS, Stata, XML, Atlas-ti, MaxQDA and Nvivo. The test data selected for this project were from the social sciences, but these formats were typically found across all domains of primary research. A small scale evaluation of the models and tools were carried out in order to inform JISC of the most viable options for future development in this area.

A longer-term aim of this work was to build a fully functional and scalable facility or service where data formats could be submitted and seamlessly returned in a chosen, desired format. The work in this proposal has laid the foundations upon which such a sustainable service can be built.

Archive contribution

The UK Data Archive researched and developed qualitative and numeric data exchanges and standard conversion tools, which were tested and evaluated. We also assessed the feasibility of developing a web-based service for data conversion based on these tool sets.

Principal investigator:  Louise Corti
Funder:  JISC Capital Repositories and Preservation Programme, Tools and Innovation Strand
Dates:  January 2006 - March 2008
Contact:  Louise Corti
Links:  DExT final report
DExT final report appendices
DExT ODAF report

A QUICK GUIDE TO THE ARCHIVE  

1 of 8: We provide continuous access to the UK’s largest collection of digital research data in the social sciences
2 of 8: We hold thousands of data collections for social science research and teaching, quantitative and qualitative
3 of 8: We hold the only copy of many of the UK's large national surveys charting social research back decades
4 of 8: We are an established national archive at the forefront of managing, preserving, sharing and delivering data
5 of 8: We are a collaborative organisation supporting emerging and existing creators and users of data
6 of 8: We provide best practice guidance and training in managing and sharing research data
7 of 8: You won’t be able to find your family records on our site. You should visit a genealogical site instead
8 of 8: We don’t provide ready-made statistics, but using Nesstar you can view frequencies from popular surveys

OUR SERVICES  

ESDS 
providing access to key economic and social data
RELU-DSS 
supporting rural research data management
Census.ac.uk 
providing a gateway to 1971- 2001 UK censuses
HDS 
enabling access to a range of historical resources
SDS 
enabling safe and secure remote access to data
SQB 
providing access to key survey questionnaires
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